"Unlike the rest of the region, China is
experiencing a double whammy -- the growth slowdown is driven by
weaker exports as well as domestic demand, in particular
investment growth," World Bank Chief Economist for East Asia and
the Pacific Bert Hofman said at a briefing in Singapore.

For all of East Asia, the World Bank see 7.2 percent growth
in 2012 and 7.6 percent growth in 2013. This is down from
7.6 percent and 8.0 percent.

"This is the slowest growth rate in the
Asia Pacific region since 2001. It's even slower than the peak of
the financial crisis in 2009," Hofman said.